US embassy cable - 05PRAGUE128

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PRAGUE 000128 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/27/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, PTER, EAID, KPAL, CU, IR, IZ, UP, CH, EZ, EUN 
SUBJECT: CZECH VIEWS IN ADVANCE OF THE JANUARY 31 GAERC 
 
REF: STATE 9678 
 
Classified By: Political Officer, Kimberly C. Krhounek for reasons 1.4( 
b) and (d). 
 
 1.  (U) On January 27, conveyed reftel points concerning 
issues to be raised at the January 31 meeting of the GAERC to 
Michal Strouhal, Director of the Common Foreign and Security 
Policy Department at the MFA.  Strouhal's responses follow: 
 
A.  (C) TSUNAMI RELIEF:  Strouhal said the EU member states 
were following up on the January 7 extraordinary session of 
the GAERC on post-tsunami relief with a debate today in 
Brussels on the proposed EU action plan to assist the region. 
 The major components of the action plan concern mobilization 
and release of financial resources through the EU budget, 
debt relief, reconstruction of the primary economic 
industries of fisheries and beach tourism (Strouhal noted 
that the Czechs do not have specialized expertise on either 
to offer, but they hope to be of assistance in reconstruction 
of water treatment and educational facilities).  Strouhal 
also noted that there is on-going action at the EU-level to 
develop new mechanisms for civil protection and humanitarian 
assistance.  The Czechs support the concept of a European 
Voluntary Corps for Humanitarian Aid, although such an 
organization would have to be coordinated with 
non-governmental organizations with expertise.  There are 
also ideas under discussion to enhance consular cooperation 
between the EU and other countries, studies of how military 
assets can be used in emergency situations and establishment 
of early warning systems. 
 
B.  (C) TRANSATLANTIC RELATIONS:  Strouhal noted that this is 
not a topic for this month's GAERC, although it may appear on 
the February GAERC agenda.  Strouhal attended last week's 
meeting of EU Political Directors in Luxembourg and said that 
the Europeans also consider President Bush's February visit 
to be an important event and hope to use it to enhance areas 
of common approach, as well as debate other areas where our 
end goals are the same, but the strategies for achieving them 
may differ (such as Iran and China).  Strouhal said that one 
topic that is increasingly raised during discussions of 
transatlantic relations is the importance of a common visa 
regime between the U.S. and all EU member states.  (Czech 
Political Director Jiri Schneider, in a discussion with 
Pol-Econ Counselor after the PolDirs meeting, also noted the 
effort to craft a common EU position on travel to the U.S. 
and said he expected this would become a more prominent 
element of transatlantic discussions, although surely not 
during next month's Presidential visit.) 
 
C.  (C) MIDDLE EAST:  Strouhal said that the Middle East is 
on the agenda for the Ministerial lunch.  The Czech Republic 
also appreciated the outcome of the Palestinian elections and 
the MFA believes that the implementation of security reforms 
in the PA and direct dialogue between Mahmoud Abbas and Arial 
Sharon will be crucial to revitalize the roadmap.  The 
elections demonstrated that political power could 
legitimately be transferred within the Palestinian 
territories; another major hurdle will be the reform of the 
economic infrastructure there. 
 
D. (C) DESIGNATION OF HIZBALLAH AS A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION: 
Strouhal said that this is an issue under discussion within 
the EU, but as yet no consensus has been reached to designate 
the political wing of Hizballah as a terrorist organization. 
There is a long technical process to add an organization to 
the terrorist list, and Strouhal believes that there needs to 
be further debate within the EU how to handle organizations 
that separate themselves into two wings. 
 
E.  (C) IRAQI ELECTIONS:  Strouhal said that the Czech views 
regarding the importance of the Iraqi elections taking place 
this weekend are very similar to those of the USG.  While the 
process is made more difficult by the security situation, it 
is crucial that the Iraqis gain a feeling of full 
responsibility for the development of their country.  It is 
also important to include Sunni Muslims in the political 
process and the preparation of the final constitution. 
Strouhal noted that the GOCR was providing buses to transport 
Iraqis in the Czech Republic to Germany to vote there in one 
of the overseas voting centers.  He believed that the EU 
would again be providing some monitors to observe Iraqi voter 
participation in Iran. 
 
F.  (C) BALKANS:  Strouhal said that the Czech Republic 
supports all of the recently announced EU measures to help 
target individuals who do not cooperate with the ICTY.  There 
will be a conclusion concerning progress towards a 
stabilization and association agreement, and the conclusion 
will specifically tie this agreement directly to cooperation 
with the ICTY.  Strouhal believes that if Croatia does not 
arrest Gotovina, it would become an obstacle to the launch of 
accession negotiations currently scheduled for this March. 
G.  (C) UKRAINE:  Strouhal noted that the present EU-Ukraine 
Neighborhood Policy and Cooperation Agreement has been 
adopted for three years.  A joint EU-Ukraine Partnership 
Council is expected to approve it in February.  Strouhal said 
the main areas of concentration are now on Ukraine's need to 
improve its market economy, membership in the WTO and 
facilitation of the movement of goods (and possibly people) 
between the EU and Ukraine.  Regarding possible Ukrainian 
membership in the EU, Strouhal said that Ukraine is now "more 
realistic" about potential EU membership; as the EU is now 
occupied with Turkey and Croatia, its capacity to absorb 
another large (and potentially controversial) member is 
limited. 
 
H.  (C) CUBA:  Strouhal said that the "hot issue" for the 
GAERC is Cuba.  The Czechs feel that it is important to have 
a firm EU declaration at the GAERC, so that Cuba does not see 
the EU as having a weak position.  Currently, the Czechs are 
trying to influence the compromise language being circulated. 
 FM Svoboda does not want the declaration to focus on who 
will or will not be invited to national day receptions, which 
he sees as simply symbolic.  Instead the Czechs was clear 
language explaining the planned structured dialogue between 
dissidents and EU missions.  (According to the MFA America's 
Department, the Czechs are still debating what sort of 
statement Svoboda will make at the GAERC on Cuba.  Septel 
will provide additional details on Jan 28.) 
 
I.  (C) IRAN:  Strouhal said that Iran is not on the agenda 
for the Monday GAERC.  Currently the EU strategy is to 
approach Iran with "carrots" such as restarting talks about a 
possible trade and cooperation agreement, but that there will 
continue to be pressure on Iran on a range of issues from 
human rights to relations with its neighbors. 
 
J.  (C) CHINA:  Strouhal believes that an EU decision to lift 
the arms embargo on China is imminent, likely by March or at 
this summer's summit.  The Czechs share our concerns about 
human rights and the geopolitical situation in the region. 
They are still advocating for additional assurances that arms 
will not flow into China, including having "greater 
transparency" in arms sales.  Strouhal also expressed the 
hope that if the Toolbox does not provide sufficient 
safeguards, the EU could still develop a permanent mechanism 
to ensure that there is no radical export of weapons to the 
region.  He added that the Code of Conduct contains a 
specific mention of a criteria on human rights.  (Czech 
PolDir Schneider expanded on this in a separate conversation. 
 He noted the Czechs will insist on some human rights 
improvements in China before agreeing to lift the embargo; 
stressed that the embargo has been more of a political 
statement than an effective tool to limit exports to China; 
and said the Czechs want to make sure that the toolbox 
requires countries to notify other member states of export 
approvals, not just denials.  Schneider acknowledged that 
U.S. Congressional reaction, in particular, will be sharp if 
the embargo is lifted without adequate safeguards in place, 
and said the GOCR is prepared to be as active as possible in 
facilitating the dialogue between Washington, Brussels and EU 
capitals.) 
 
Visit Prague's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/prague/index. cfm 
CABANISS